Also On This Day...

Baddeck Nova Scotia -
Alexander Graham Bell 1847-1922 founds the Aerial Experimental Association at Baddeck; with two young Canadian engineers, Casey Baldwin and John A.D. McCurdy, as well as US Army Lt. Thomas Selfridge and engine maker Glenn Curtiss. The first experiments are with kites, and a year later 4 biplanes are built at Curtiss' plant, including the Silver Dart. The picture shows Baldwin, Selfridge, Curtiss, Bell, McCurdy (on crutches) and a mechanic.

1813

And in Today's Canadian Birthdays...

Dr. John Rae 1813-1893Physician and explorer of the Canadian Arctic, was born on this day near Stromness, Orkney Islands, Scotland in 1813; died in London, England July 22, 1893. A surgeon and expert outdoorsman, Rae worked for the Hudson's Bay Company from 1833 onward. He is best known for his ability to survive off the land and with the native Arctic people, and as the man who found the first remains of Sir John Franklin's disastrous expedition to find the North West Passage.

Also Graham Towers 1897-1975economist, banker, was born on this day at Montreal in 1897; died in Ottawa Dec. 4, 1975. After serving in the First War and graduating from McGill, Towers entered a career with the Royal Bank, until he was summoned by R. B. Bennett in 1934 to head the new Bank of Canada. As first Governor of Canada's central bank, he helped Canada move out of Depression, through the Second World War and into post war recovery.

Also Henry Larsen 1899-1964RCMP officer, navigator, was born on this day at Fredrickstad, Norway in 1899; dies in Vancouver Oct. 29, 1964. From 1940-42, Sergeant Larsen sailed the Royal Canadian Mounted Police patrol ship, the St. Roch, through the Northwest Passage from west to east, repeating the 1903-06 feat of Norwegian Roald Amundsen; in 1944 returned to Vancouver by a more northerly route through the Arctic Archipelago in only 86 days, becoming the first vessel to travel the passage in both directions; in 1950 Larsen sailed her through the Panama Canal to Halifax, making her the first vessel to circumnavigate North America.

Also Eddie James 1907-1958football player, was born on this day in 1907; died Dec. 26 1958. James starred for the Regina Pats, Winnipeg St John's, and the Regina Rough Riders through the 1920s and early 1930s, sometimes playing the full sixty minutes of the game on both offense and defense. The Eddie James trophy is awarded to the outstanding rusher in the Western Football conference of the CFL.

Also Len Cariou 1939-TV/stage actor, singer, was born on this day at Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1939. Cariou began his stage career in Winnipeg in 1959, joined the Stratford Festival in 1961, and has acted on Broadway since 1970. In 1979 he won the Tony Award as Best Actor for his work as the title character in Sweeney Todd. For a list of his film roles, check the
Len Cariou filmography.

Also Harry Jerome 1940 -track and field athlete, was born on this day in 1940; died Dec. 7 1982. Jerome ran the 100 m sprint in 10 seconds flat at age 19 during the Olympic trials, becoming the first Canadian to officially hold a world track record; won bronze medal at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo.

Also Dewey Martin 1942-rock musician, songwriter, was born on this day in 1942. Martin was drummer for the band Buffalo Springfield.

Also Dave Betts 1957-rock musician, was born on this day in 1957. Betts was drummer for the band Honeymoon Suite.

In Other Events....

1996

Ottawa Ontario - Jean Chrétien's government asks the Supreme Court of Canada to rule on the legality of a unilateral declaration of independence on the part of the Province of Quebec.

1996

Whitehorse Yukon
- NDP defeats Yukon Party 10 seats to 7 in territorial election; each party wins 44% of the popular vote.

1994

North America
- NHL postpones start of hockey season for at least 2 weeks to deal with labour strife.

1994

Ottawa Ontario
- Supreme Court of Canada rules a man accused of sexual assault can use the defence that he was too drunk to know what he was doing.

Ottawa Ontario
- Supreme Court of Canada votes 5-4 to deny bid of Sue Rodriguez, who suffered from Lou Gehrig's disease, for doctor-assisted suicide; rules Criminal Code sanctions against assisting in a suicide do not infringe on her rights; Victoria woman will commit suicide four months later, aided by a sympathetic doctor.

1992

Ottawa Ontario
- 52 Charlottetown Referendum Yes committees now registered; including Business Council on National Issues; also Status of Women, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Francophones; 17 for the No side, including the National Citizens Coalition; also CUPW, BC Liberals, Quebec arm of Canadian Auto Workers.

Cape Dorset, NWT
- Peter Pitseolak 1902-1973 dies at Cape Dorset; Inuit photographer, artist and writer; recorded Inuit legends and traditions, illustrating them with his own drawings; acquired first camera from Oblate missionary, and documented the igloos and dog teams of the Inuit hunters as the old era ended.

Victoria Island NWT
- Robert McClure caught by ice in Prince of Wales Strait between Banks and Victoria Island; last gap in NW Passage; spends two winters in Mercy Bay on north coast of Banks Island.

1760

Toronto Ontario
- Robert Rogers 1731-1795 visits site of Toronto on his way to Detroit; finds French have departed from Fort Niagara.

1746

Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Jacques-Pierre de Taffanel de La Jonquière 1685-1752 leads remnants of 65-ship French armada, ravaged by storms and typhus, back to France; 2,400 men eventually die, none in action; no shots fired in d'Anville's failed attempt to recapture Louisbourg and Acadia.